ROSS STEWART was left out of Sunderland’s 2-1 defeat to West Brom last night after suffering discomfort in the wake of last week’s return in a practice game against Middlesbrough - and remains a doubt for Saturday's Championship game at Hull.

Stewart has been sidelined since suffering a thigh injury during the warm-up ahead of September’s Tees-Wear derby defeat to Middlesbrough.

He played for an hour of a behind-closed-doors game against Boro last week, and scored as he appeared to come through the game unscathed.

However, he complained of further discomfort in his thigh on Thursday, and did not train over the weekend in an attempt to guard against any further damage.

As a result, he was not considered for the matchday squad last night as Sunderland suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Baggies.

Sunderland head coach Tony Mowbray said: “If Ross isn’t ready in his mind, and not fit, then he’s not ready. We have to deal with that, and we’ve dealt with it for the last three-and-a-bit months.

“I don’t see that we should be gambling with Ross Stewart if he’s feeling some discomfort in the area where he’s been injured. He played 60 minutes midweek in a bounce game, and I think he just felt a bit delicate after that game.

“He didn’t feel anything during it, but we’re just taking that precaution of not forcing him into a situation where he damages it. We’ll give it as long as it needs, but hopefully that’s only days rather than weeks.

“The practice game was Wednesday, and he was cooling down on the Thursday and just said he felt something. There haven’t been many training days since then. He didn’t train on Saturday or Sunday because he just said he was feeling a bit something.

“It’s not something we need to scan or anything. The medical department aren’t too worried about it. It’s really a conversation with the boy, and if he’s a bit uncomfortable, why would we throw him in?

“Why would you throw him in, and then he comes after the game and he’s torn where he’s feeling a bit of discomfort? I just think you’ve got to let things settle down.

“He hadn’t played any football for more than three months, then he played 60 minutes in a game we controlled him in. He scored, and looked sharp and ready to go.

"He didn’t complain of anything during the game, and came off after 60 minutes feeling a million dollars. But then the next day, he was just feeling a bit tight and stiff. Give him a day or two to settle down, and hopefully he’ll be feeling fine.”

Sunderland return to action when they travel to Hull City on Saturday, but Mowbray admits that, at this stage, it is too early to say whether the Scotsman will be available for the weekend.

He said: “Will he be fit for the Hull game? I don’t know, I’m not a physio, let’s wait and see. I think the player always has an input into it. I’m sure he’s been out that long that the player doesn’t want to come back and break down – he wants to be 100 per cent right.

“Let’s wait and see. The team scored three goals in the last game (against Millwall), so that was in my mind that I didn’t want to gamble if Ross wasn’t feeling right or comfortable. Let’s not take a chance.”